+- Fishing Forum (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum)
+-- Forum: Utah Fishing Forum (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=386)
+--- Forum: Utah Fishing General (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=58)
+--- Thread: We caught the meat at Willard today. (/showthread.php?tid=1105811)
Pages:
1
2
We caught the meat at Willard today. - obifishkenobi - 05-09-2025
![[Image: 7757269583256471081.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/300bVTTN/7757269583256471081.jpg)
![[Image: image000000.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/G855Xp66/image000000.jpg)
Randy came down from Idaho and joined, Juma and I on our weekly Friday trip. We started off of Pelican Beach at 7:00am, working south into Freeway Bay, then we turned West and made our way across the nothingness, to finish off the day by the light pole. We kept 3 limits of 14" wipers and 2 limits of Walleye with 3 over 20". Caught most of the Walleye on #7 Flicker Shad off planer boards, set back 125' going 1.8-2mph. The Wipers mainly came on worm Harnesses set 100+' back. We finished the day by tripling on walleye, when it was time to pull lines at noon, three of the six rods had walleyes on them. Best colors where everything, especially purple and gold. Todays tactic was just keep driving and turning and the fish just kept coming. John and Verdine where getting into the Walleye as well, overall a beautiful, productive day on the Bay.
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - oldguy - 05-09-2025
(05-09-2025, 08:01 PM)obifishkenobi Wrote:That a boy Shawn still working on my motor hope to be back out this coming Friday. Did you see the 2 old guys with the black spot on there fish finder from staying in that one spot?
Randy came down from Idaho and joined, Juma and I on our weekly Friday trip. We started off of Pelican Beach at 7:00am, working south into Freeway Bay, then we turned West and made our way across the nothingness, to finish off the day by the light pole. We kept 3 limits of 14" wipers and 2 limits of Walleye with 3 over 20". Caught most of the Walleye on #7 Flicker Shad off planer boards, set back 125' going 1.8-2mph. The Wipers mainly came on worm Harnesses set 100+' back. We finished the day by tripling on walleye, when it was time to pull lines at noon, three of the six rods had walleyes on them. Best colors where everything, especially purple and gold. Todays tactic was just keep driving and turning and the fish just kept coming.
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - wiperhunter2 - 05-09-2025
I figured with these warmer temps the catching would improve, congrats on a great trip. What was the water temp as you were getting off the water?
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - obifishkenobi - 05-09-2025
(05-09-2025, 08:12 PM)oldguy Wrote:Yup they where at the cleaning station with us, they caught a bunch more today doing the same thing as last week, purple #7 Flicker Shad at 125' back 2.2mph was their formula.(05-09-2025, 08:01 PM)obifishkenobi Wrote:That a boy Shawn still working on my motor hope to be back out this coming Friday. Did you see the 2 old guys with the black spot on there fish finder from staying in that one spot?
Randy came down from Idaho and joined, Juma and I on our weekly Friday trip. We started off of Pelican Beach at 7:00am, working south into Freeway Bay, then we turned West and made our way across the nothingness, to finish off the day by the light pole. We kept 3 limits of 14" wipers and 2 limits of Walleye with 3 over 20". Caught most of the Walleye on #7 Flicker Shad off planer boards, set back 125' going 1.8-2mph. The Wipers mainly came on worm Harnesses set 100+' back. We finished the day by tripling on walleye, when it was time to pull lines at noon, three of the six rods had walleyes on them. Best colors where everything, especially purple and gold. Todays tactic was just keep driving and turning and the fish just kept coming.
(05-09-2025, 08:16 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote: I figured with these warmer temps the catching would improve, congrats on a great trip. What was the water temp as you were getting off the water?
67 degrees
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - BoatBallast - 05-09-2025
Thanks for the report!
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - 2knots - 05-09-2025
Well done guys, heard there was a lot of boat traffic out there today
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - brookie - 05-10-2025
Verdean and I also played the Willard today. 2 limits of eyes and a few wiper. We were got both our eyes and wiper on bb, gold was the best color. Good times at the bay.
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - wiperhunter2 - 05-10-2025
(05-10-2025, 12:50 AM)brookie Wrote: Verdean and I also played the Willard today. 2 limits of eyes and a few wiper. We were got both our eyes and wiper on bb, gold was the best color. Good times at the bay.
Nice, what area were you fishing? Any big eyes?
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - Mildog - 05-10-2025
Great report! I was heading there today but decided after last weeks great koke fishing at Berry/SC we would chase kokes again! Seems like we Should have stayed with our first choice Willard. Kokes humbled us today, took long time to find them Finally found them around 1pm thought we’ll be limited by then. Caught 2 right away then a couple hit and runs follows but no more takers except a couple rainbows and cutthroat! Oh well that’s fishing!!
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - brookie - 05-10-2025
(05-10-2025, 01:06 AM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:2 were the larger size 20" class, the rest were mid teen eaters. We trolled all over and found fish all over - mostly out in the middle west of freeway.(05-10-2025, 12:50 AM)brookie Wrote: Verdean and I also played the Willard today. 2 limits of eyes and a few wiper. We were got both our eyes and wiper on bb, gold was the best color. Good times at the bay.
Nice, what area were you fishing? Any big eyes?
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - MWScott72 - 05-10-2025
Looks like a great day. Those eyes are tanks!!
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - wiperhunter2 - 05-10-2025
(05-10-2025, 04:39 AM)brookie Wrote:(05-10-2025, 01:06 AM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:2 were the larger size 20" class, the rest were mid teen eaters. We trolled all over and found fish all over - mostly out in the middle west of freeway.(05-10-2025, 12:50 AM)brookie Wrote: Verdean and I also played the Willard today. 2 limits of eyes and a few wiper. We were got both our eyes and wiper on bb, gold was the best color. Good times at the bay.
Nice, what area were you fishing? Any big eyes?
Sounds like the area we were fishing, good to see some of those bigger eyes being caught.
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - Paddler - 05-10-2025
(05-10-2025, 01:48 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:(05-10-2025, 04:39 AM)brookie Wrote:(05-10-2025, 01:06 AM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:2 were the larger size 20" class, the rest were mid teen eaters. We trolled all over and found fish all over - mostly out in the middle west of freeway.(05-10-2025, 12:50 AM)brookie Wrote: Verdean and I also played the Willard today. 2 limits of eyes and a few wiper. We were got both our eyes and wiper on bb, gold was the best color. Good times at the bay.
Nice, what area were you fishing? Any big eyes?
Sounds like the area we were fishing, good to see some of those bigger eyes being caught.
Me, too. Out in 22' of water. I noticed a band of increased density on my sonar in the area, at mid depth. No idea what it was, but there was definitely something different. I thought about posting up a photo but didn't. Not fish arches, just a band of orange on my graph.
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - wiperhunter2 - 05-10-2025
(05-10-2025, 02:19 PM)Paddler Wrote: Me, too. Out in 22' of water. I noticed a band of increased density on my sonar in the area, at mid depth. No idea what it was, but there was definitely something different. I thought about posting up a photo but didn't. Not fish arches, just a band of orange on my graph.
Were you seeing a lot of debris on the surface? Usually when I see that on my FFer, the gain is too high. What brand FFer are you running?
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - Paddler - 05-10-2025
(05-10-2025, 03:17 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:(05-10-2025, 02:19 PM)Paddler Wrote: Me, too. Out in 22' of water. I noticed a band of increased density on my sonar in the area, at mid depth. No idea what it was, but there was definitely something different. I thought about posting up a photo but didn't. Not fish arches, just a band of orange on my graph.
Were you seeing a lot of debris on the surface? Usually when I see that on my FFer, the gain is too high. What brand FFer are you running?
It wasn't surface clutter, the top of the band was ~10' down. The band was orange in color, which indicates a stronger return than the more common blue stuff. When I left the area it was blue (plankton?), so not a gain issue. I should have recording the sonar data.
My unit was state of the art back in 2005, it's a Lowrance LCX 111c HD. It's been a solid unit, I had to replace the transducer and the GPS puck once each over the years. No CHIRP, Downscan, Side Scan or LiveScope, just standard 200kHz sonar. My puck went bad last year, while fishing Jordanelle it would zoom over to Spain and back instantly. I put a Point 1 on, and it's okay. The heading sensor sometimes messes up and sometimes varies from my console-mounted Ritchie compas and my autopilot heading, but there is no correction I'm aware of.
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - wiperhunter2 - 05-10-2025
(05-10-2025, 04:14 PM)Paddler Wrote:(05-10-2025, 03:17 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:(05-10-2025, 02:19 PM)Paddler Wrote: Me, too. Out in 22' of water. I noticed a band of increased density on my sonar in the area, at mid depth. No idea what it was, but there was definitely something different. I thought about posting up a photo but didn't. Not fish arches, just a band of orange on my graph.
Were you seeing a lot of debris on the surface? Usually when I see that on my FFer, the gain is too high. What brand FFer are you running?
It wasn't surface clutter, the top of the band was ~10' down. The band was orange in color, which indicates a stronger return than the more common blue stuff. When I left the area it was blue (plankton?), so not a gain issue. I should have recording the sonar data.
My unit was state of the art back in 2005, it's a Lowrance LCX 111c HD. It's been a solid unit, I had to replace the transducer and the GPS puck once each over the years. No CHIRP, Downscan, Side Scan or LiveScope, just standard 200kHz sonar. My puck went bad last year, while fishing Jordanelle it would zoom over to Spain and back instantly. I put a Point 1 on, and it's okay. The heading sensor sometimes messes up and sometimes varies from my console-mounted Ritchie compas and my autopilot heading, but there is no correction I'm aware of.
Can't say I've ever seen that at Willard but with all the warm water temps, it for sure causes more plankton to form. I've never seen it at Willard though, unless the gain is up high, like 60% or higher.
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - Paddler - 05-11-2025
(05-10-2025, 07:04 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:(05-10-2025, 04:14 PM)Paddler Wrote:(05-10-2025, 03:17 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:(05-10-2025, 02:19 PM)Paddler Wrote: Me, too. Out in 22' of water. I noticed a band of increased density on my sonar in the area, at mid depth. No idea what it was, but there was definitely something different. I thought about posting up a photo but didn't. Not fish arches, just a band of orange on my graph.
Were you seeing a lot of debris on the surface? Usually when I see that on my FFer, the gain is too high. What brand FFer are you running?
It wasn't surface clutter, the top of the band was ~10' down. The band was orange in color, which indicates a stronger return than the more common blue stuff. When I left the area it was blue (plankton?), so not a gain issue. I should have recording the sonar data.
My unit was state of the art back in 2005, it's a Lowrance LCX 111c HD. It's been a solid unit, I had to replace the transducer and the GPS puck once each over the years. No CHIRP, Downscan, Side Scan or LiveScope, just standard 200kHz sonar. My puck went bad last year, while fishing Jordanelle it would zoom over to Spain and back instantly. I put a Point 1 on, and it's okay. The heading sensor sometimes messes up and sometimes varies from my console-mounted Ritchie compass and my autopilot heading, but there is no correction I'm aware of.
Can't say I've ever seen that at Willard but with all the warm water temps, it for sure causes more plankton to form. I've never seen it at Willard though, unless the gain is up high, like 60% or higher.
There's always plankton, that's what gizzard shad eat. Maybe the zooplankton are more dense than the phytoplankton? Or maybe the plankton concentration varies, which would alter the appearance on the graph. Higher concentrations could attract more baitfish, and more baitfish could attract more walleye? No idea, really, but it's something to think about.
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - TubeDude - 05-11-2025
(05-10-2025, 02:19 PM)Paddler Wrote: Out in 22' of water. I noticed a band of increased density on my sonar in the area, at mid depth. No idea what it was, but there was definitely something different. I thought about posting up a photo but didn't. Not fish arches, just a band of orange on my graph.
My guess is a cloud of newly hatched shad. About the right time. They start spawning by mid to late April and the spawn may extend through May. Once the shadlets reach about 1 - 1.5" they start to become prey and the predators have more to eat and are slower to hit lures. That usually starts after about the first of July.
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - Paddler - 05-11-2025
(05-11-2025, 02:36 PM)TubeDude Wrote:(05-10-2025, 02:19 PM)Paddler Wrote: Out in 22' of water. I noticed a band of increased density on my sonar in the area, at mid depth. No idea what it was, but there was definitely something different. I thought about posting up a photo but didn't. Not fish arches, just a band of orange on my graph.
My guess is a cloud of newly hatched shad. About the right time. They start spawning by mid to late April and the spawn may extend through May. Once the shadlets reach about 1 - 1.5" they start to become prey and the predators have more to eat and are slower to hit lures. That usually starts after about the first of July.
Thanks. It seems early for shad, and it didn't look like bait balls. Wish I'd logged my sonar data.
RE: We caught the meat at Willard today. - oldguy - 05-11-2025
(05-11-2025, 03:40 PM)Paddler Wrote:Mine did the same thing a couple of Fridays ago I use the lowerance triple shot. I am with you I still use my LCX 27 for mapping. Got way to many way ponts to convert over.(05-11-2025, 02:36 PM)TubeDude Wrote:(05-10-2025, 02:19 PM)Paddler Wrote: Out in 22' of water. I noticed a band of increased density on my sonar in the area, at mid depth. No idea what it was, but there was definitely something different. I thought about posting up a photo but didn't. Not fish arches, just a band of orange on my graph.
My guess is a cloud of newly hatched shad. About the right time. They start spawning by mid to late April and the spawn may extend through May. Once the shadlets reach about 1 - 1.5" they start to become prey and the predators have more to eat and are slower to hit lures. That usually starts after about the first of July.
Thanks. It seems early for shad, and it didn't look like bait balls. Wish I'd logged my sonar data.